Struggling-How to Spend my Off-Year!

[jwnichols21]

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Hey All,

I am new to the Student Doctor Network, but so far I love what I am seeing! I am currently a 3rd year at UC San Diego, and am planning to apply in the next cycle (June 2012), which gives me an off year. I am perplexed as to how to spend this off year, and was wondering which of the following options you think would provide me with the best chances of getting in to Dental School? It it helps, my target schools are UCSF, NYU, and UNLV.

a) Participate in my school's Integrated Master's Program: a 2 year (the 1st year is handled during my 4th year of undergraduate) intensive research based M.S. degree in Biology. (I am hesitant because I don't enjoy working in the lab too much-is this catered more towards MEDICAL SCHOOL, and not dental school?)

b) Travel overseas and volunteer doing dental work of some kind

c) Work locally at a Dental office/clinics

d) It doesn't really matter, as long as my GPA and DATs are solid?

Thanks for any/all input! I really don't want to have to do the master's program, so if anyone could provide some input along the lines of "it isn't better than my other options, and it won't really make a difference which one you choose," that'd be awesome! Thanks!

 

[peanutb123]

Hey All,

I am new to the Student Doctor Network, but so far I love what I am seeing! I am currently a 3rd year at UC San Diego, and am planning to apply in the next cycle (June 2012), which gives me an off year. I am perplexed as to how to spend this off year, and was wondering which of the following options you think would provide me with the best chances of getting in to Dental School? It it helps, my target schools are UCSF, NYU, and UNLV.

a) Participate in my school's Integrated Master's Program: a 2 year (the 1st year is handled during my 4th year of undergraduate) intensive research based M.S. degree in Biology. (I am hesitant because I don't enjoy working in the lab too much-is this catered more towards MEDICAL SCHOOL, and not dental school?)
show us your numbers then we can suggest you if you should do something along these lines.
b) Travel overseas and volunteer doing dental work of some kind
Unless you are a hygienist and just go to over seas to help out another dentist to do basic cleanings. Otherwise dont do it man it will look bad. b/c you dont have any knowledge about teeth and you will be doing human experiments. not good.

c) Work locally at a Dental office/clinics
will look good
d) It doesn't really matter, as long as my GPA and DATs are solid?
having to do something meaningful in that one year does matter but does not overshadow your numbers. Numbers are main priority.
Thanks for any/all input! I really don't want to have to do the master's program, so if anyone could provide some input along the lines of "it isn't better than my other options, and it won't really make a difference which one you choose," that'd be awesome! Thanks!

🙂

 

[jwnichols21]

Thanks for your help-

Overall GPA-3.311. Upper Div GPA-3.4.
I still have about 4 more Bio classes to take, a Bio lab, and OChem lab.

Why would going overseas look bad? For instance, the Pre-Dental Society does a lot of mission trips overseas. The role is more of a dental assistant role. I thought that this looked great for Dental Schools?

 

[peanutb123]

Thanks for your help-

Overall GPA-3.311. Upper Div GPA-3.4.
I still have about 4 more Bio classes to take, a Bio lab, and OChem lab.

Why would going overseas look bad? For instance, the Pre-Dental Society does a lot of mission trips overseas. The role is more of a dental assistant role. I thought that this looked great for Dental Schools?

Did you ask what are the duties of dental assistants?

if you are doing it for the sole purpose of looking good, why dont you do some charity work oversees. Or even in the US. You dont have to go to oversees to look good you can do it in us. Try to do some volunteer work or like i said try to find a job with red cross or something interesting along those lines. Or you can get a nice corporate job for that year. Non of these will count against you. Its the numbers that matter first. Do good on the dat.

Make sure to do good in all those bio & chem classes. and bring up your gpa little bit higher.

 

[jwnichols21]

Okay..so I don't need to do the Master's program? Would doing that outshine all other possibilities? Or is it pretty comparable?

 

[dentalWorks]

Hey All,

I am new to the Student Doctor Network, but so far I love what I am seeing! I am currently a 3rd year at UC San Diego, and am planning to apply in the next cycle (June 2012), which gives me an off year. I am perplexed as to how to spend this off year, and was wondering which of the following options you think would provide me with the best chances of getting in to Dental School? It it helps, my target schools are UCSF, NYU, and UNLV.

a) Participate in my school's Integrated Master's Program: a 2 year (the 1st year is handled during my 4th year of undergraduate) intensive research based M.S. degree in Biology. (I am hesitant because I don't enjoy working in the lab too much-is this catered more towards MEDICAL SCHOOL, and not dental school?)

b) Travel overseas and volunteer doing dental work of some kind

c) Work locally at a Dental office/clinics

d) It doesn't really matter, as long as my GPA and DATs are solid?

Thanks for any/all input! I really don't want to have to do the master's program, so if anyone could provide some input along the lines of "it isn't better than my other options, and it won't really make a difference which one you choose," that'd be awesome! Thanks!

I highlighted the answer

IMO, if your goal is dental school, masters is not needed unless your trying to build up an upward trend to compensate for poor undergrad performance. If your undergrad GPA is in order, you do not need masters.

For your off-year, you stay academically active by taking 1 or 2 classes per term (post-bacc), not for anything other than to stay within the school system.

 

[jwnichols21]

Thank you for your comments. Any other opinions?

 

[John Durian]

Your GPA is average. You'll need to score decent on the DAT and you'll have a pretty good chance.

I would not waste money going overseas. Get a part-time or full-time job, save up that moolah, and apply. Apply to 2-3 postbac or SMP as backup. Then enjoy your time off before starting dschool.

 

[HoustonDAT]

Your GPA is average.

And you haven't posted your DAT scores, if you have taken them. I'd save the overseas trips until you have been accepted to dental school. At a sub 3.5 gpa, I think your time would be better served taking a post-bacc or masters. Without the numbers, your ECs are invisible.

 

[dantemac]

My year off is just working and more shadowing. Can never learn too much about teeth!